An Ilocano lawmaker in the House of Representatives on Monday vowed to push for legislation that would help farmers as well as small and medium-sized enterprises to recover from the global crisis.
Reelected Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba of the Second District of Ilocos Norte took his oath at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Mini Cultural and Sports Center in his hometown in San Nicolas on Sunday.
“My victory is everybody’s victory. As I have promised, I will support programs geared toward economic recovery, particularly in helping each other push for the welfare of SMEs and agriculture, which is the backbone of the economy,” Barba said.
Having sponsored a total of 558 house bills and resolutions during his first term, Barba said he is also eyeing the establishment of a satellite office for the Philippine Maritime and Coastguard in Ilocos Norte.
Last year, Barba was instrumental in the passage of House Bill 5950 which paved the way for the construction of a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training center in Banna town.
The training hub is in support of the province’s local industries such as loom-weaving, organic and artisan soap making, and rice coffee processing among others.
Meanwhile, Barba is also encouraging Ilocos farmers to embrace farm mechanization while venturing into other high-value crops other than palay to improve their productivity
Source: Philippines News Agency
